Kiln.



I. P. WILLIAMS1 MLN, APPLICATION EILED OCT. 6,1913.

L45 46., Patented'Nov. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. P. WILLIAMS.

KILN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6 1913.

, Panted. Nov. 6, 1917.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2` lzzmmm Jamal? Wlz'a @mi/bn woe@ l. P. WILLIAMS.

KILN.

APPLICATION FILED 001.6. 1913.

Patented Nov. 6, 19'17".

3 SHETS-SHEET 3.

JAiinsfrywintiiiivis, or sT, Louis, iviissorrm,

Kim.

meer@ ToaZZ whom'z'may concern.' f n Be it known that I, `Jii'iiiis VILLiAMg a citizen ofthjUnitedMStatesi residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri'jhaveinvented certain 4 neyv useful Improvements in" Kilns," of which the 'following 'is a ispebiica-V' tion, referencebe'ing'had thereinftofthe aecoinpanying 'c lrawing.'l

This invention rela-tes tovkilnsiand more such'as brick and' the like.

particularly to kilns forjburningclay-yvare'?,

The primary and basic object vofthe in-v vention is to provide 'a continuous gasifired kilnlstructure Io'fsuchtconstruction and" ai rangement that 'a gaseousY 'or liquid fuel`-may be introduced into the coiribustion "or'vvafi'-eV plane vo f the ivare to `be ytreatedyarid 'ignition of such fuel be effected andmaintaiiied ap'-,

ture. f A y A further object of. the

proximately `at theI floor-linefof the f .invention is toproduce a kilnsstructureofi'thekind mentioned which shall fof comparatively in:

expensive form "but none the. less eifective for the purposes for which is designed.

` :i still further objectr ofthe invention is to provide aA kiln-structure' in Whichthe supply of fuel andivithdraival ofgases, etc., are

under the Acontrol of the attendant and' whereby heat may be maintained any desired degree and uniforni,in consequenceof which 'the Ware may 'be'uniformly burned and to any predeterminedcondition;

Another Objectis to provide such a construction vand arrangement of the compio'-v nents thereof that theheat given offfb'yflthe cooling Ware in one ysection ofthe kiln may be utilized for dryingT fresh bricks l' inanother part thereof. i i' Another object is so .to construct andarrange 'said kiln-components that' y'the heat maybe progressively conducted toand into contact lith successively-disposed sections of Ware in thel burning-chamber, whereby each successive section maybe" subjectedto af preliminary heatingof a progressively higher degree. 1

The invention seeks7 in general, to provide a kiln-structure which is 'particularly adapted for burning high-grade Ware-though it may be effectually utilized for treating lovvgrade Warew-and which structure,` from an operative standpoint, Will practical use i- 1 d Specification of'Letters Patent. i

` possess a high degree of 'eiciency and durability andv 'fivhiclii7 structurally 1 considered,"

Will belofthe greatestpo'ssible simplicity. l

Other objects Aand iadiia'ntage's'iviljjlbe in d ,resented Nev. 6,1917; 'Appii'ajiqnineacatetere,1913fseriaiimjaaris: 'l l. f

partliobvious'fromthe annexed "drzru'fvi'ngsl,l

and Will'falso beI in partpo'infted out 'in the f following description.'l l* "j i "The invention resides broadlyzin the fea tures of 's constr'uctiony" combinations? of 1'elementsghnd varrangeinents of parts', and in various i aggrou'pments I thereof, all as Will" be ekeinplified in theY structure hereinafter ing Ivthe components of such structure Where-v by a gaseousor liq'iiidlfuel may ,be intro--y ducedinto the= combustion chamber of* a beloi'v the tvarethereintofbe heated and ignition'zofrsuch fuel be eie'ct'edfandlinain-g tained "at approximately the iioor-line ofthe lnoifd'er that thisv invention maybe clearly I comprehended" by those skilled in' 'the art,

dralivingsl illustratingfjone of the many pos` sible utilizations thereof-are appended here# toas apart of this disclosure fit kbeing mani-l festthat" other possible utilizations and einy bodiinents'employing" the underlying prin*- cipl'esof the'fin'vention 'fall Within fthe spirit thereof a'nd also WithinA the objects contemplated thereby'.v

"In these drawings :l l

Figure l isa View in vertical transverse sectionof a brick-kiln constructed in accordance with my invention;` f

partly infsectioii;

Fig@ is lavievv inA vertical section (on the lineV =3-3,1Figf 2)' 'of a portionY offrthe kiln, showing on an' enlarged scale; means for introducingifuel at the iioor-level thereof; f

Figt is afvievv *in'sectional elevation showing means vfor controlling lthe passage v Fig. 2 isa viei'v'n plan of the same7 andin'gthe fueljto said slots, etc.; means forV :controlling-the kpas'sage'of such fuel; and

' ing, and the latter empty, the finishedL ware having been unloaded from the same.

. Each of the kiln-components 2 and 3 yis formed with' a `main burning or combustionchamber 4 and 5, respectively, in which the ware, such as bricks 7, is housed and treated.

The floor or base-portion of each kiln is provided with a series of juxtaposed openings 8 which may be in the form of short orl '2 elongated slots, apertures, or other. type of burner orifices, to whichfuel of any appropriate form may be conducted, as willbe presently explained. These openings will be of such dimensions and form as to permit the ignition of the fuel at or slightly above the upper surface of the floor, thel concept of my invention being to effect ignition at the point specified as contradistinguished from known methods of effecting such ignition below or considerably above the floor.

By my improvement I am enabled to produce a high degree of heat at the lowest possible point within the burning chamber itself and, thus to secure great efficiency of the heat-units as they rise from the points of ignition. 'To this end, and as shown in Fig. 1, the ware is so disposed as to form elongated ignition chambers 9 immediately over the openings 8. Any desired number of these ignition chambers may be formed and preferably according to the number of such openings 8. 0bviously, however,-more than one of such openings may lead into an ignition Chamber. rFhe dimensional area of such chambers may be that best suited for the ware being burned or according to its condition when about to be treated.

Extending downwardly from' the floor and adjacent to each of saidopenings is a vertical conduit or flue 10, which, preferably and as shown, is cylindrical in form and communicates with a horizontal passage, conduit, or flue 11. For convenience, I elect to have each conduit 11 supply two of the flues 10. 1n other words, each conduit 11 is common to two ues 10. As clearly appears in Fig. 2, the conduits 11 underlie the floor and extend laterally of the main chamber 4 and the ignition chambers 9 and, hence for convenience of identifica-tiem l shall i efiaeae sheet metal because of its characteristic ofV being light, since they must at times be removed, as presently to be explained. y

One of these hoods is disposed in one of a series of doorways 18 and 14y formed at the sides of the kiln-components, and through which f y(when the hood is removed),` the burned or unburned ware is placed in or removed from the main chambers 4 and 5. As shown in Fig. 4, each set of laterals extends into a hood, so that one hood is common to three laterals.

Also communicating with one of these hoods, is anauxiliary fuel-supply passage 15 which, in turn, communicates with a main fuel-supply passage 16 which extends longitudinally of the kiln-structure and connects withfaV suitable source ofl supply or generator (not shown). This passage supplies fuel to each and 4allof the series yof hoods which are disposed inthe several doorways 13 formed in the kiln-casing.

Obviously, it is desirable to provide means for controlling the passage or fiow ofthe fuel into the different laterals; and, to this end, l have found it convenient to locate such means withinI the different hoods, and which means may be operated outside thereof. Any suitable type of controlling vdevice may be resorted to, and for illustrative purposes, l have, in Figs. 4 and 5, shown such a device in the form of a flap-valve 1,7 adapted to close theupper end of the upstafnding portion of the lateral, and operated by an actuating rod 18 which extends through the' i hood whereby `it may be manipulated by the attendant. There is one of these valves for each lateral that extends into the hood, and each valve is independently adjustable so that any one or more of the laterals which s communicate with the hood may be closed. rlfhe val-ves are suitably pivoted on a hingerod 19 carried by the hood and whereby the three valves within the hood may be moved. when the hood is. After the hood is removed, the latcrals and passage 15 maybe closed by plates 2O and 21, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1.

As aforementioned, the hoods 12 are disposed in the doorways 13 and facilitate -control of the intake of fuel into the laterals. As usual, the kiln is operated under draft whereby a circulation of the heat-units may be effectedand the gases, smoke, etc., withdrawn. For this purpose, the doorways 111-- massa@ opening 23 formed la temporary door-sec'- tion and, also., lieupper' open eiid'kifa conduit oi' passage which communicates with a main draft passage or l:flue 26;" To

close said conduit 25 'when the hohd 22 is removed va plate 27'is utilizedfas sh'oivn'in Figjl. `The flue QGlcads to `any suitable draft-producing instrumentality,`v such' jas a fan (not shovVnLors/i" arfdefvice. i

The operation of 'the' kiln conformsin general to that of coiitinfuo usV kilns which' use a temporary coinbustible''partition'.y The gas is admitted through the' controlffdampers and laterals, andthroughtheorilies or restricted openings in the o'or rofthe' firing-chamber to the combustiori-chambers formed from the green Ware. l ere, the gas is mixed Withair and burned. i The air itself isfdrawn through the'iirinlgchamber by a fan-created draft,an`d ispref-V erably taken through a chamber infvvhich iredware is cooling. This serves the double c purpose ofr cooling thevburned vf'armef 4and heating the air to be miziedyviththe gas. The products lof combustion are r turnk carried through chambers inl Whichjgreen WareV is stacked for 'Eri-rig. A temporary partition is arranged at the end of na series of these chambers, and the gases are:

out on Athe side `of: this partition adjacent to the chamber being fired. -As ftliefylire is advanced, this."temporaiy partition burned, and the pointV at which gases are' being Vremoved is corr "ndingl'y ladvanced lto the neXt temporary partition.

Vhen combustion is'elfe'cted, if it', is found that the kiln is heating rapidly attthe top than at the bottom, the draft isfin'creased, and the amount off lgas beinfg admitted lout down. If heat istoo Igreat at the ,floor-'leyeh the draft is cut down top'ermitthe 'lieatto ascend. By this [manipulation of the gassupply and "draft, the mosltd icate ycontrol is effected, and Vthis f'results ih la `prodi'i'ct" of uniform colorand hardness. d

' The chambers 4 'andv 5 are arranged in alinementand Qthere Aare av pluralityof "eac'h, communicating at their respective vends fand set one baek ofanother, the yn'umber"depending upon the desired Vcapacity th'efplaiit. They 4form a r Continuous'tunnel structure of a shape' in ,cross section, `sinoilar"to `that shoivnj in Fig. 1. The continuoiis' iiringis effected by Workingffirst ,one 'and thenfanotherofthese chambers.7 f i f 'Y The draft is effectelthrough eXha-ust fan at one end, thelair :being preferably admitted at the other end andfthrou open chamber or one from" which tlieiivare that has already been1 lired, is beingbremov'ed. This airis 'carried through the next scf cee'ding ehamberv which has not been opened; and 'passing throughv the Ware' 'therein Wh-ich Vhas already been fired, it takes-iipjheatfunitsV fromtlie Ware ycoclili'ng,the same and heating the arr.v *The airmayinfthis Way-"bedr'avvn throiigh" severaf fof these chambers so thatv the" air'travels along i'n horizontaly line through 'the chambers, the' heating medium being admitted from thelbbttoin; This man` nerof introducing vthefai'r 'and mixing it with the ycombustible gasesa-t yan angle to their introduction', and carrying the'draft through the chamber horizontallyeffects the removal ofv the' heat particles from' vthe roof of the chamberiand distributes them moreevenly therethrough. :It also produces a firing 'of the Ware situated near the floor level due to the f fact 1 that 'l the heat which heretofore Wasdn lercessY at ythe top of lthe Ychamber-is' byV this rrre'th-[odv presented to the loi'ver por# tions ofthe'warei 'y f Fromthe foregoing, -it'iwvill be perceived that 'I have succeeded inffdevi'sing a-g'as'flired continuous clay-Ware bur fngkihr which is' in the'manner indicated, itfWill'be seen' thatl Well Aadapted to 'a,chieve"ftl1`efseveral objects 'y an'deridsin"vievvf""Ihestructurel is simple d ielyf WH' many"changesvr cank lbe lmade xin the above construction and' inany apparently Widely different embodiments fof 'this invention i'can be lmade 'viith'out departing fromthespirit thereof, it'fis intendedv thatall matter` contained in the' foregoing description 'and Vshown lin the accompanying vdraWlin-gs'shall be interpreted as illustrative and notv ina limiting sense. 'It isalso to beunderstood that the llanguageused"in the' vc'lain'is is in-A ;tendedto' 'cover `allof thejgeneric' and spe! cific features of fthe "invention which, as la matterv language, 'might be saidftfo'. `fall therebetween.' What I claim is: 1 'd 1; il continuous gas-ired-flziln including int 4`combinatibn,- a `Ware-burningf nchamber, air containing ifgnitionechamber's formed therein; `a yflooring .for `said Walrcblir'ning chamber provided with openings 2communicating *with 'said ignitionlehambersf aseries of laterale"'communicating With-said. openings for the passagef yfueiknily, a gas-supply'rflue connecting-With saidfla'tera'ls, hoods interposed"*between said rlateralfs and the gas-supply flue,v draft-hues coni,in-unieating ivith said burning-chamber. means com municating With'V Vdraft-hues Ifor draw! ing air hori'zOlflfally through theiWare-brnies iio

ing chamber and thereby maintaining the ignited mixture of gas and air in a condition of incandescenee therein.

' 2. A continuous gas-fired kiln including in combination, a ware-burning chamber, air containing ignition-chambers formed therein, a flooring for said ware-burning charnber provided with openings communicating with said ignition chambers, a series of laterals communicating with said openings for the passage of fuel only, a gas-supply flue connecting with said laterals, hoods interposed between said laterals and the gas-suply iue, gas-controlling dampers in said hoods, draft-fines communicating with said burning chamber, and means communicating with said draft-fines for creating a partial vacuum within the ware-burning chamber and thereby maintaining the ignited mixture of gas and air in a condition of incandescence therein.

3. A continuous gas-fired kiln including in combination, a ware-burning chamber, air-containing ignition-chambers formed therein, a flooring for said ware-burning chambers provided with openings communicating with said ignition chambers, a series of laterals communicating with said openings for the passage of fuel only, a gas-supply flue connecting with said laterals, removablehoods interposed between said laterals and v'the gas-supply flue, gas-controlling dampers in said hoods, draft-fines communieating with said burning chamber,- and means communicating with said draft-,dues for creating a partial vacuum within the ware-burningk chamber and thereby maintaining the ignited mixture of gas and air in a condition of incandescence therein.

4:. A continuous gas-fired kiln including in combination, a kiln-component, a wareburning chamber therein, doorways leading into said chamber, a flooring for said chamber provided with a series of spaced openings disposed longitudinally of the kilncomponent for the passage only of gaseous fuel, a series of lateral-fines each common to a plurality of said openings for conveying the gaseous fuel to said openings, ahood in each doorway common to av plurality of said lateral-fines, a gas-supply conduit leading into said hood, a main gas-supply passage common to all of the laterals, and means communicating `with said ware-burning chamber and including a draft-producing instrumentality for creating a partial vacuum above said openings and thereby maintaining the ignited mixture of gas and air in a state of incandescenee.V

5. A continuous gas-fired kiln including in combination, a kiln-component, a wareburning chamber therein, doorways leading into said chamber, a flooring for said chainber provided with a series of spaced open.- ings disposed longitudinally of the kiln comv onent for the assaUe onl of a aseous 7 e Y t into said hood, a main gas-supply passagev common to all of the laterals', draft-fines leading from the side of the chamber opposite to said gas-supply conduits, and means communicating with said wareburning chamber and including a draft-producing instrumentality for creating a partial vacuum above said openings and thereby maintaining the .ignited mixture of gas and air in a state of incandescence.

6. A continuous gas-fired kiln including in combination, a kiln component, a ywareburning chamber therein, doorways-leading into said chamber, a flooring for said chainber provided with a series of spaced Vopenings disposed longitudinally of the kilncomponent for the passage only of a gaseous fuel, a series of lateral-'dues each common to a plurality of said openings for conveying the gaseous fuel to said openings, a hood in each doorway common to a plurality of said lateral-flues, gas-controlling devices in said hoods, a gas-supply conduit leading into said hood, a main gas-supply passage common to all of the laterals, and means communicating with said kwareburning chamber and including a draft-producing instrumentality for creating a partial vacuum. above said openings and thereby maintaining the ignited mixture of gas and air ina state of incandescence.

7. r1`he method of kiln-burning which consists in arrangingwithin a. firing-chamber a combustion-chamber formed from the lware to be fired; introducing fuel to the combustion-chamber through a restricted opening in the floor of the firing-chamber; and effeeting a combustion of substantially all the fuel within the combustion-chamber.

8. The method of kiln-burning which consists in arranging within a firing-chamber a combustion-chamber formed from the ware to be fired; introducing fuel to the combustion-chamber through a restricted opening in the iioor of the firing-chamber; effecting a combustion of substantially lall the fuel within the combustion-chamber; and regulat-ing the heat in the firing-chamber by producing a draft horizontally therethrough.

9. The method of kiln-burning which consists in arranging within a firing-chamber upon the floor thereof, a combustion-chamber of substantial area and formed from the ware to be fired; introducing fuel to the combustion-chamber through a restricted opening in the fioor of the firing-chamber; and effecting al combustion of substantially all the fuel within the combustion-chamber land above the floor-level of the firing-chamber.

l0, The method of kiln-burning which consists in arranging Within a firing-chamber upon the floor thereof, a combustionchamber vof substantial area and formed f, from the Ware to be red; introducing fuel to the combustion-chamber through a restricted opening in the floor of the firingchamber; and eecting aL combustion of substantially all the fuel Within the combustion-chamber and above the floor-level of the firing-chamber and producing a draft horizontally through said firing-chamber.

1l. A kiln comprising a tunneldike Wareburning chamber having a Hoor provided with a restricted fuel-inlet opening; a com# bustion-chamber of substantial area formed the restricted fuel-inlet opening whereby substantially complete combustion of the fuel may be effected Within the combustion-` Chamber and above the floorof the firing chamber.

upon the floor of the firing-chamber tromv the Ware to be red and communicating with the restricted fuel-inlet opening whereby substantiallyv complete combustion of the fuel may be effected Within the combustionchamber and above theffloor of the iiringchamber; and means for producing a draft across the `firing-chamber horizontally whereby the heat may be regulated therein. In testimony whereof I afxmy signature in presence of two Witnesses. Y

JAMES P; WILLIAMS..v

Witnesses:

A. W; POWELL, I. CHOEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

